Beginners Page #3

Hal coughs.

INT. ICU ROOM

It’s the middle of the night, Hal is connected to many I.V.s

in both arms, still disoriented, he’s tangled up in the

tubes, trying to pull them out of his arms. He wakes up

Oliver.

HAL:

Oliver! Please help me with all

these ropes.

Oliver rushes and helps him.

OLIVER:

Pop, Pop, stop -- you’re gonna hurt

yourself.

A NURSE quickly enters and helps hold down his arms.

(CONTINUED)

10/29/07 8.

CONTINUED:

NURSE:

Mr. Fields, we're going to have to

secure your arms again.

She puts his hands in restraints, Oliver helps.

HAL:

You two married?

OLIVER:

No, Pop.

HAL:

Why not? She’s great.

The nurse smiles, embarrassed, and continues with her job.

OLIVER:

She’s a great nurse in the

hospital, we don’t really know her,

you’re very high on drugs.

HAL:

You always have some very good

reason, haven’t you?

OLIVER:

No, Pop, I just don't want to be

like you and mom.

(aside to the nurse)

Thank you...

CUT TO PAST:

INT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD HOME 1978

IN THE KITCHEN:
We see 10-year-old Oliver watching his mother

GEORGIA and father kiss quickly, politely, and then his

father leaves quickly. Hal remains in silhouette through the

shot.

DIFFERENT DAY, IN OLIVER’S BEDROOM: Oliver watches Hal and

Georgia kiss, and Hal leave - more like a performance than

anything real.

DIFFERENT DAY, IN PARENT’S BEDROOM: Oliver watches Hal and

Georgia kiss and Hal exit, quick and dry.

10-year-old Oliver studies them each time.

(CONTINUED)

10/29/07 9.

CONTINUED:

DIFFERENT DAY, OLIVER’S BEDROOM: Georgia quickly opens the

door and finds Oliver drawing.

GEORGIA:

Oliver!

He turns and Georgia shoots him with her finger, Oliver falls

to the ground.

GEORGIA:

Olly, you can do better.

He gets up and she shoots him again -He falls more

dramatically, knocking his head on the floor.

GEORGIA:

That’s good.

His mom looks at him affectionately.

CUT TO PRESENT:

EXT. ECHO PARK STREET - NIGHT

Oliver walks Arthur across a lit field, towards the dog park.

EXT. DOG PARK - NIGHT

Everywhere dogs and their people are playing. Oliver and

Arthur sit on a bench like two humans. Oliver watches the

action, Arthur stares at Oliver.

OLIVER (CONT'D)

Go have your own experiences with

your own people. I'll be right

here...

Arthur stays by Oliver’s side.

OLIVER (CONT'D)

I’m a human. I’m not a dog.

And you're a Jack Russell, that’s a

breed. Your personality was created

by this guy John Russell, a hunting

enthusiast, in the 1800s. And he

bred your ancestors to have stamina

and courage for the hunt. You think

you’re just you, and you want to

chase the foxes, but other people

planted that in you years ago.

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes